Direct TV Sells Satellite Radio Stations as Television Channels: Is It Fraud?
Posted: Tuesday, January 18, 2011
by Mogama
http://www.mogama.info
This is not my first time blowing the whistle on this powerful company, and it may not be the last time, unless they change for the better. We have been loyal Direct TV customers since Year 2000, with upward trending bills to show for it. We have the Choice Extra programming package, which boasts 250 channels, but at least 55 of these channels are Satellite Radio Stations, not television channels! That leaves 195 television channels, seven of which are local channels that I can get for free without a cable or satellite TV subscription. I could probably get these radio stations via my smart phone. By the way, only two of Direct TV's 55 radio stations are worth my listening to.
And why am I paying for radio stations on TV? Short answer: Because I really don't have a choice except to dump our satellite TV subscription altogether. Direct TV's choice of the word “Choice” in three of their four programming packages is part of their deceptive advertising.
Direct TV dropped some channels from our previous (basic) programming package without our knowledge, perhaps a pressure tactic to force our hand to move up and pay more. They told us that to be able to watch those subtracted channels we had to upgrade our package, at a higher cost of course. Unfortunately, one of the channels carries our favorite sports, so you see I had to exercise my precious “choice” to upgrade.
Our current bill is about $75 per month, showing a $5 discount which I got for whining: “We've been Direct TV customers for more than 10 years. How come loyal customers like us keep seeing our bill rise while you give year-long price cuts to new customers? Are we worth less to you than those newbies?...”
They promised that the $5 per month discount is ours for 12 months. What we are really waiting for is new legislation that will require cable and satellite TV providers to give customers the real CHOICE of ala-carte programming. That way we can choose the television channels we want to watch and pay for. And believe me I wouldn't include any satellite radio stations from the menu.
Just curious: Do other satellite television providers sell their subscribers satellite radio stations? And how does Direct TV get by with this? Can they continue to legally profit from selling radio stations as television channels? Am I the only one crying foul...fraud? ~mogama~
- Choice : 150+ digital channels ; $30 per month for one year, then $59 per month regular price.
- Choice Extra: 210+ digital channels ; $35 per month for one year, then $64 per month regular price.
- Choice Ultimate: 225+ digital channels ; $40 per month for 12 months, then $69 per month regular price
- Premium: 285+ digital channels ; $115 per month, if you upgrade as a current customer
Direct TV dropped some channels from our previous (basic) programming package without our knowledge, perhaps a pressure tactic to force our hand to move up and pay more. They told us that to be able to watch those subtracted channels we had to upgrade our package, at a higher cost of course. Unfortunately, one of the channels carries our favorite sports, so you see I had to exercise my precious “choice” to upgrade.
Our current bill is about $75 per month, showing a $5 discount which I got for whining: “We've been Direct TV customers for more than 10 years. How come loyal customers like us keep seeing our bill rise while you give year-long price cuts to new customers? Are we worth less to you than those newbies?...”
They promised that the $5 per month discount is ours for 12 months. What we are really waiting for is new legislation that will require cable and satellite TV providers to give customers the real CHOICE of ala-carte programming. That way we can choose the television channels we want to watch and pay for. And believe me I wouldn't include any satellite radio stations from the menu.
Just curious: Do other satellite television providers sell their subscribers satellite radio stations? And how does Direct TV get by with this? Can they continue to legally profit from selling radio stations as television channels? Am I the only one crying foul...fraud? ~mogama~
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Mogama, you are spot on! Your article reminds me of the 500-TV-channels myth that everyone seems to believe, but is absolutely not true. Companies like Directv and Comcast have manipulated the public into believing this by using tactics such as the very one you outlined here - counting radio channels as TV channels. In addition, they often count part-time channels, out-of-market (and therefore unavailable) local channels, and PPV slots as "TV channels". Here's a challenge that I've had on the table for years and no one has ever been able to take me up on: List 500 different full-time TV channels available for subscription on any cable or satellite system anywhere in the world. I bet ya can't do it. Curiously, though, people continue to believe the 500-channel myth."In addition, they often count part-time channels, out-of-market (and therefore unavailable) local channels, and PPV slots as 'TV channels'."
So it's worse than I thought? Comcast does it too? I think as the word gets around the day may come when we the customers can do the counting of channels, when we count and choose what real TV channels are, and which ones we want to pay for. Yes, ala-carte programming...I feel it coming. Thanks, Terry, for commenting. ~mogama~
Yes it is, and yes others do. Good luck in getting any regulation on business and advertising, as I think you can see the trend is in the opposite direction as politicians get donations which they rely on from these businesses and or have direct financial interests in many of them. I had DISH, and I don't do pay-per-view so I didn't get the telephone line connection which was $5 a month extra. After 2 months they asked me...told me to get it or they were going to charge me for it anyway. I explained to them I never use it, and don't want it, so they charged me monthly for it anyway until I cancelled my service. Same as auto insurance that uses your credit rating to charge you more if you have bad credit even though you pay up front, and if you don't pay you are not covered. They justify it by saying it is an indicator of your potential to have an accident, and in this economy where almost everyone has less than perfect credit can you imagine how much they are fleecing the public for. Even if you've never had an accident it can be used, and not a peep from the regulatory commissions for this abuse because ins. co. either employs them or pays well enough for them to look the other way. They call them contributions of course.You know, David, that Direct TV story you share is another sign of how capitalists go too far, fleecing us as they go. I have heard/read that insurance companies do charge us based on credit rating. No matter how they make the connection between credit rating and the likelihood of having crashing a car, it's a stretch to put it mildly. It is nothing but a scheme to milk us to add to their profits. And they continue to do it only because they are allowed to, and our political representatives are too hooked on insurance company money to put an end to this outrage. I don't blame my insurance agent; it's the insurance executives that are the real (legal) thieves here. Thanks for shedding some light here. ~mogama~
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